You know you love guitar

Remember the 1980s, when the aural environment of choice—at least among adults who were conscious of designer labels—was the instrumental offerings of Windham Hill records? The elegant but folkish acoustic-guitar stylings of Will Ackerman and his cousin Alex de Grassi, along with the Erik Satie-influenced noodlings of guitarist-turned-pianist George Winston, formed a cultural touchstone of sorts. Windham Hill may be pretty much gone now, but de Grassi is still making fine music. His recent Now and Then: Folk Songs for the 21st Century (Tropo/33rd Street) is a top-notch instrumental rediscovery of such Americana tunes as “Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” “Shortnin’ Bread” and “Streets of Laredo.” De Grassi will play the Palms Playhouse at 13 Main Street in Winters on Saturday, January 17, at 8 p.m.; admission is $17.